Centralizing technical performance insights across 25 mini-grids in Mozambique

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The core challenge facing the mini-grid operators and financiers in the Enabel/FUNAE project was the diversity of hardware systems across the 25 mini-grids sites – a mix of AC and DC coupled systems across both old and new installations and incorporating multiple brands like SMA, Jinko, ATESS, and Victron. This created complexities in monitoring, as each system had its own architecture and configuration. Odyssey’s asset management software allowed data to flow from all systems to create one, centralized view of asset performance across the portfolio. Read on to learn the full details and scope of this project.

Geographical and energy context of Mozambique

Mozambique's geography significantly impacts its energy infrastructure development. The country spans over 800,000 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 30 million, most of whom live in rural areas. These regions can be difficult to access due to lack of good road infrastructure. In addition to Mozambique's significant hydropower resources (mainly through Cahora Bassa hydropower plant dam), solar energy is gaining more and more importance, especially in the central and northern provinces, due to the high solar irradiance. Currently 45% of country's population has access to electricity but in rural areas the rate is much lower. Decentralized solutions, like mini-grids, will play an important role in Mozambique's national ambition to reach universal access to electricity by 2030. Fundo de Energia (FUNAE), Mozambique's rural energy fund, is in charge of the development of off-grid energy solutions for remote and rural areas, mainly focusing on the development of solar-powered mini-grids spread across the country.

Project overview

Odyssey teamed up with Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency, and FUNAE to retrofit and upgrade 25 mini-grids in Mozambique's rural regions, a project that was made possible thanks to the Belgian-Mozambican Development cooperation. Odyssey’s role was to implement a remote monitoring system across their installations, making it possible for FUNAE and Enabel to get integrated performance and usage metrics across their portfolio of mini-grids in centralized dashboards.

Project background

Enabel: The Belgian development agency

Enabel’s mission is to implement international development projects that promote socio-economic growth and sustainable development. Enabel is particularly active in sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure, including energy.

In Mozambique, Enabel is leading the Renewable Energy for Rural Development Phase 2 (RERD2) program, which seeks to increase access to clean, reliable electricity in remote areas. Enabel’s involvement is crucial to advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which calls for affordable and sustainable energy access for all.

Fundo de Energia (FUNAE): Mozambique’s rural electrification agency

FUNAE is a governmental institution responsible for overseeing the development of off-grid renewable energy solutions in Mozambique. Established to address the growing need for energy access in rural and peri-urban areas, FUNAE oversaw the development of a portfolio of mini-grid systems - primarily solar photovoltaic (PV) - that serve rural communities.

FUNAE's key challenge is maintaining the operational efficiency of these mini-grids, especially given their remote locations. The operational expenditures associated with these systems - such as maintenance and repairs - are high, making remote monitoring a valuable tool for reducing costs. By using a centralized platform that provides real-time data on system performance, FUNAE can better manage its energy assets and proactively address issues such as component failures or energy shortfalls. In addition, FUNAE is developing a strategy for the involvement of the private sector for the management of their current mini-grid assets. Having a centralized platform with all operational data will support the development of this strategy.

Odyssey Asset Management

Odyssey is a global platform designed to streamline the finance and management of decentralized renewable energy projects. We believe that high quality data on asset performance, that can easily be shared with all stakeholders, from financiers to technicians, is crucial for these systems to scale.

Our asset management system collects data from diverse solar components, processes the data, and gives users real-time visibility over energy generation, storage, and consumption. These tools enable users to monitor system performance, identify potential issues, and be notified in case of failures. Odyssey’s value to FUNAE is in its ability to standardize the monitoring of multiple mini-grids that use various technologies and brands. Given that FUNAE’s mini-grids incorporate systems from different manufacturers (such as SMA, Jinko, ATESS, and Victron), Odyssey’s asset management solution was selected for its compatibility with a wide range of technologies and its ability to integrate seamlessly into different types of system architectures and designs.

Challenges faced

Diversity of systems:
- The 25 mini-grids represented a mix of AC and DC coupled systems across both old and new installations, incorporating multiple brands like SMA, Jinko, ATESS, and Victron. This created complexities in monitoring, as each system had its own architecture and configuration.
Lack of documentation:
- Documentation of the existing systems was incomplete, making it difficult to retrieve technical information for the retrofitting process.
Remote locations:
- The mini-grids are located in rural and remote areas, sometimes very difficult to reach, which increases logistical challenges for on-site work and coordination with FUNAE technicians.

Project solution

To address these challenges, Odyssey provided a flexible, non-intrusive solution that accommodated the existing infrastructure of the mini-grids while introducing state-of-the-art monitoring tools.

Standardized hardware and installation and a centralized dashboard

Hardware devices: Odyssey deployed the FernBox I, II, and IV devices for data collection, each pre-wired with the appropriate meters (AC and DC power meters, current transformers) for specific site configurations:
- FernBox I: Installed at the sites where direct communication with devices was possible.
- FernBox II: Up to 4 AC power meters to monitor AC coupled systems.
- FernBox IV: Combining AC and DC meters for DC coupled systems.
Seamless integration: The FernBox hardware was designed to integrate with existing systems without clashing with the various technologies already installed at the sites. This included direct communication with inverters and third-party systems, ensuring compatibility with brands like SMA, Victron, Jinko, and ATESS
Centralized monitoring platform: All data collected was sent to the Odyssey platform, providing a centralized dashboard with real-time monitoring and control over the 25 mini-grids

Training and capacity building

Odyssey led a five day training session in Maputo for FUNAE’s technicians, covering:

Introduction to the Odyssey platform and asset monitoring solutions
Practical installation guidelines tailored to the equipment on-site (e.g., SMA, Jinko, Victron)
Hands-on portal demos, including configuring dashboards, managing notifications, and troubleshooting issues remotely
Field installations at three sites Mapulanguene (Maputo Province), Mahel (Maputo Province), Alto Changane (Gaza Province) where technicians participated in an intensive on-site training to install hardware and configure the monitoring system

Technicians were equipped with detailed installation guides in English and Portuguese, ensuring they could perform installations independently in the future.

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Images from Piyush Jain, Odyssey Account Executive, on a training trip in Mozambique, visiting three sites to train technical staff.

Project results and impact

Centralized monitoring: FUNAE now has a single platform for tracking analytics, system performance, and gathering insights for all 25 mini-grids.
Capacity building: FUNAE technicians, after completing the training program, gained the skills and knowledge required to install and maintain the remote monitoring systems. While they can continue to rely on Odyssey for support, the training set a good foundation for self-sufficiency moving forward.
Cost savings: With real-time monitoring in place, FUNAE can now identify system anomalies remotely, reducing the need for frequent on-site visits and optimizing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.
System compatibility: The non-invasive nature of the solution ensured that it worked across a range of existing systems, reducing the need for costly overhauls or replacements.

Next steps

The next phase will focus on scaling the solution: as more mini-grids are built in Mozambique, Odyssey will continue to work with FUNAE to expand the remote monitoring system, ensuring it adapts to their needs.

Conclusion

This case study highlights the successful collaboration between Enabel, Odyssey, and FUNAE to retrofit 25 mini-grids in Mozambique. Despite the challenges of diverse technologies, lack of documentation, and remote locations, the project delivered a standardized, scalable solution, empowering financiers and technicians with the system performance data they need to keep the power on.